Winners of FIFA 10 and The Manager Contest Announced

Sorry for not posting this on Saturday, but it’s been a busy weekend preparing for my trip to Las Vegas this week to attend a search marketing conference. Nevertheless, drumroll please, here are the winners of the copies of FIFA 10 and The Manager book by Barney Ronay:

FIFA 10 winner: Bernard Cahill

FIFA 10 winner: Peter Edmiston

FIFA 10 winner: Marc Shepherd

The Manager winner: Dave Griffiths

Congratulations to each one of you. Your winning prize will be mailed today.

About Christopher Harris

Founder and publisher of World Soccer Talk, Christopher Harris is the managing editor of the site. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Guardian and several other publications. Plus he has made appearances on NPR, BBC World, CBC, BBC Five Live, talkSPORT and beIN SPORT.
Harris, who has lived in Florida since 1984, has supported Swansea City since 1979. He's also an expert on soccer in South Florida, and got engaged during half-time of a MLS game.
Harris launched EPL Talk in 2005, which was rebranded as World Soccer Talk in 2013.
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1) I absolutely hate diving and all that goes with it, BUT I’ve never seen Ngog simulate or anything like this before, so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Also, he was in a really great position to put a ball to the far post for a tap in (although that is obviously not as much of a ‘sure thing’ as Stevie G from the penalty spot).

2) Even if Ngog didn’t dive, he would have been fouled. That was a poor challenge with the boots up. A more experienced striker would have allowed contact to take him to the ground rather than simply falling (also, falling instead of trying to make a hurdle or play through the challenge is less risk of injury).

3) Everyone else dives, so why should I be surprised (or angered) when our own players do it? Maybe I’m cynical, but when I’m watching a game I assume that at least half of the free kicks given are dives most of the time. Back when I played, I did everything I could to not fall down and I played the ball and tried to keep possession no matter what. I didn’t just belly flop onto the grass whenever someone nicked me with their foot. Unfortunately, this is not how football is played at the highest level.

All of these points of view kind of conflict with each others. At this point, I’ve just decided to accept the draw but it isn’t something I’m proud of or happy with (though I wouldn’t be proud/happy of any draw with Brum). I’d be perfectly fine with suspensions and fines for simulation, but they sure as hell better do it with every single player in every single instance (which will never happen).

Short version: I hate diving but I think that even if he didn’t dive that he would have been fouled anyways. Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe the fact that I’m a LFC supporter clouds my judgment, but I don’t fault Mr. Ngog too much… Rooney, Drogba, RVP, they all would have done the same thing.

I agree that everyone does it….except perhaps Robbie Keane, who seems to try and stay on his feet more than any other striker I have ever seen.
As a Man Utd fan it pissed me off to see Cashley Cole flop over like a salmon on the deck after Fletcher had won the ball…soft decision there, but I have seen plenty of decisions over the years go our way thanks to CRonaldo flipping and flopping and also it seems Berba is prone to it as well….so it all comes out in the wash and evens off, the only difference last night was that Ngog mistimed his dive LOL
If you ARE going to dive, make sure you TIME it right
Example: Darren Bent…
Perhaps someone should send Ngog a video of Bent’s correct dive this weekend for Sunderland against Spurs.